Patty and Carne opened the restaurant doors as the poison gas Krieg had shot at the restaurant dissipated. Ash stood frozen behind Zeff as the men hurried around, trying to save Ghin, as he had saved Sanji.
The chore boy started running towards Krieg, the cooks yelling, trying to bring him back. He could not be swayed, running faster towards the larger man, even as he was shot at. He reared back his hand, and Krieg pulled out his spike covered cape as protection. Chore boy never hesitated, punching through the spikes and crashing his fist into Don Kreig's face.
They all grimaced in sympathy pain seeing the blood running from chore boy's hand. Everyone was silent, listening to him speak to Krieg's prone form about how it wasn't time for him to die.
Sanji sat down heavily on Zeff's other side, bleeding and grimacing in pain. Ash wanted to help him, but continued to stare out at the sight of chore boy standing over Don Krieg.
She watched, disgusted, as Krieg pulled out every dirty trick he could think of. Sometimes, chore boy would avoid the attacks, sometimes they would take him down. But every time, chore boy would go back to the fight.
"He's losing too much blood," Sanji said. "There's no way he can win this with Don Krieg having all those weapons."
"No, you are wrong." Sanji and Ash both turned to Zeff as he spoke. "No matter how many weapons he has, our chore boy can still bring him down, because he has no fear."
They had no response to his words, and looked back out to the two fighters.
"Stand or fall, life or death," Zeff continued. "You cannot have fear, or you will be lost."
"What?" Sanji asked, confusion marking his voice. Ash could not look away, as chore boy got up yet again.
"That kid, when he fights," Zeff stated. "He is not afraid of anything. Even death."
"But why?" Sanji asked. "Why does he keep fighting?"
Suddenly she knew what Zeff was telling us. "He has heart," she responded quietly. "He fights because he has something worth dying for. His friends, his dreams…"
She looked to Zeff to see if she was correct. He didn't look away from the fight, but she saw the smirk on his face, and a smile bloomed on her own. She looked over at Sanji, who was staring at the fighters, deep in thought. I suppose I wasn't the only one learning from this fight.
They watched, stunned, as it seemed that chore boy was done for. First with explosions, then with bombs in the water destroying what he was standing on, then when Krieg captured him in a steel net. Through it all, chore boy kept fighting to the point where his final blow came just before he fell, exhausted, into the ocean.
The cooks all around them cheered, while the pirates gaped in shock or cried for their captain. Ash looked up as Zeff took her arm, turning to guide her inside. "Sanji, if you're finished daydreaming, go save that kid." Sanji looked up, perplexed. "He can't swim," Zeff added, causing Sanji to jump up in shock.
"Why didn't you say anything sooner, you crazy geezer!" Sanji tore off his shoes and jacket and dove in the water. Ash smiled at Zeff and walked over, picking up the jacket, shoes, and straw hat that were on the ground, then turned back and followed him inside the restaurant.
Ash hurried out of the room, blushing furiously. Zeff looked up and smirked at her.
"The kid doing okay?" he asked. She had been helping to patch up the chore boy, since the other cooks were busy cleaning up after the adventure.
"Yes," she muttered. "He'll be fine."
"And, Sanji?" he asked, watching as her blush intensified, and she ducked her head, heading outside. She could hear Zeff laughing as he followed her. "Don't let him bother you," he said. "He can't help but flirt with anything female."
His words helped to get rid of her embarrassment, but she couldn't help but be disappointed. Even though she wasn't used to someone flirting with her, it had been nice. On the other hand, she had been so stupefied, she hadn't been acting like herself at all. You're a warrior, she told herself, before smiling in memory. Yeah, a warrior… and a princess.
The bell rang, and the cooks assembled in the restaurant. Zeff offered Ash a seat, and within moments, all the other seats were taken. She watched in confusion as Sanji and chore boy came in, and were directed to sit on the floor. Several of the cooks were smirking, and a few looked nervous. Something was definitely going on.
Suddenly Patty stood up, demanding to know who had prepared the soup. Sanji called out from his place on the floor that he had, and wasn't it good? Ash had been tearing into a steak, and had not yet sampled the soup. She went to pick up her spoon, wanting to try Sanji's cooking, but her hand was covered by Zeff's. She looked over at him, and he shook his head slightly.
"Are you joking?!" Patty asked. "I can't stomach it!"
Her eyes grew wide as cook after cook slammed their spoons down and shouted their displeasure at Sanji's soup. Zeff interrupted, "We don't waste food, eat every drop." She went to pick up her spoon again, but found his hand cover hers, reaching under, and taking the spoon away from her.
Zeff finished his soup and stood, then threw the bowl on the floor, and Ash startled at the sound.
"That tasted like stewed garbage!" he exclaimed. Sanji had finally had enough, and strode over grabbing Zeff by his collar.
"It tastes exactly like yours!"
"What?" Zeff shouted. "Don't flatter yourself!" With a punch, he flung Sanji away. "I've been cooking longer than you've been alive, you little brat!" At that, Sanji jumped up and ran out the door.
Chore boy went and got another helping of soup, and seeing that, Ash grabbed the nearest spoon and tried it.
"Wow," she said as the flavors exploded on her tongue. "I know I don't have a refined palate or anything, but that's delicious!"
"Mm-hmm!" chore boy agreed, forgoing a spoon, and drinking it from his bowl.
"We know it is." Chef Zeff said, looking defeated. "He's an outstanding chef." The cooks all agreed, nodding along.
"You have a funny way of showing it," she said with a frown, and standing up. "Do you even realize that you hurt his feelings?" she asked, seeing the others lower their heads.
"Well, he won't listen to us! He's too hard-headed." Zeff shot back.
"Is that any wonder?" she retorted. "So are all of you!"
The chore boy started laughing, and Zeff turned to him. "You said you were going to the Grand Line, right?" Chore boy nodded. "Will you take him with you?"
He looked surprised at Zeff's offer, but shook his head. "No," he answered. "He wants to stay and cook here with all of you."
"Hmm," Zeff mused. "So, you would need him to tell you himself."
"Yep!" Chore boy grinned, then holding out his plate for the fifth time said, "more food please!"
"More soup for me!" Ash added.
Knocking on the door, and feeling nervous, Ash wondered if she knew what she was getting herself into. But remembering Sanji's terse farewell to the others had her resolve unwavering. The door opened, and Sanji looked at her in surprise, then grinned. "Miss Ashley, what a pleasant surprise! Would you like to come in… my room?!" The last bit sounded a bit eager, she could sense what a disaster that would be, so she gestured outside.
"No thank you, Sanji, I merely wanted to speak to you for a moment." She turned around and leaned on the balcony railing, looking out to the water. Sanji joined by her side, waiting quietly for her to speak.
"It's none of my business, but I wondered if that was truly how you were saying goodbye to Zeff," she said quietly. She could feel his surprise at her words, and assumed he would be angry, so she continued before he could yell. "It's just that… I would give anything to have been able to say goodbye to my parents. Anything." She paused, calming her emotions before they got out of control. "I just wanted to say, don't let the opportunities pass you by, you don't want to live with regrets." With that, she stood upright and swiftly walked away.
Sanji stood there, watching her leave. He had been scolded and berated many times in his life, but never quite so nicely before. He wondered why she hadn't been able to say goodbye to her parents, and wished he had been quick enough to try to console her. However, her words had struck something within him. "live with regrets…" He knew too well what that was like, and no, he didn't want that at all.
He walked slowly through the restaurant with his bags, memories surfacing. Learning to cook, learning to fight. Every memory, every thought involved Zeff, and Sanji wasn't sure what to do. He walked out towards his new ship, his new crew… his new life.
"Sanji." He froze as Zeff called to him. "Take care of yourself, all right?"
Hold it in, don't cry.. don't cry, he told himself, but the tears came anyway. He turned around and looked at the man who not only saved his life, but had given him a new one; full of purpose, full of dreams.
"Chef Zeff!" he called out. "I owe my life to you, you old geezer! SO THANK YOU!" It was all he could say, the tears streaming down his face, as he bowed to show his respect to the chef.
Ash could hardly believe her ears, let alone her eyes. The cooks surrounding her were crying openly as they berated Sanji for causing it. She looked up to Zeff on his balcony, wiping the tears from his own eyes.
"Men should depart without a word, let alone tears," he said and she scoffed. Little did they know that they all had gone up in her estimation. It was wonderful to see how much they truly cared for each other. She grinned as Luffy- turned out Chore boy had a name- called out, "Set sail!"
Ash stepped over to say goodbye to Sanji as he grinned at her. He gave a small bow, saying, "Thank you Miss Ashley, for your wise words."
She smiled, "Good luck Sanji," she said. "I hope you find the all blue."
He grinned even wider, happy that she remembered. "I'm sure you'll find your family soon," he replied.
"San..ji!" Luffy whined, wanting to set sail to his next adventure.
"Goodbye," Sanji said quietly, then raising his voice, said it again. "Goodbye everyone! I'll miss you!" With that, he shoved the boat away from the deck, and jumped aboard, turning to wave to his family, but mostly to the pretty girl that he wished was coming with them.